Crash of a Tupolev PS-41 in Kuybyshev

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3522
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow – Kuybyshev – Almaty
MSN:
15/234
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a mail flight from Moscow to Almaty. En route, weather deteriorated with icing conditions, causing the windshield to be covered by ice and frost. To land at Kuybyshev Airport, the pilot was forced to put his head out of the cockpit, but doing so, he missed the runway. After touchdown, the airplane skidded off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Farman NC.223 into the Mediterranean Sea: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1940 at 1205 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AROA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Marseille – Bizerte – Beirut – Damascus
MSN:
3
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While cruising off Sardinia on a flight to Beyrouth and Damascus via Bizerte, the radio navigator sent a brief message that he was hit by enemy fire. Shortly later, the aircraft named 'Le Verrier' crashed into the sea some 50 km off the Cape Spartivento, south of Sardinia. SAR were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the seven occupants was ever found. At the time of the accident, Italian and British fighters were taking part to a battle in the area.
Crew:
Henri Guillaumet, pilot,
Marcel Reine, copilot,
Jean Le Duff, radio navigator,
Fernand Franques, flight engineer,
Lucien Montaubin. second flight engineer.
Passengers:
Jean Chiappe, High Civil Commissioner of France to Levant (Lebanon and Syria),
Cpt Nicolas.
Probable cause:
Shot down by an Italian or a British fighter.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-41 in Novoe Selo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1940 at 1600 LT
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3523
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rostov-on-Don – Sochi – Sukhumi – Kutaisi – Tbilisi
MSN:
16/214
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
64
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Rostov Airport at 1500LT on a mail flight to Tbilisi with intermediate stops in Sochi, Sukhumi and Kutaisi. About 50 minutes into the flight, while cruising in stormy weather, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive, partially disintegrated in the air and crashed in a field at a speed of 600-700 km/h. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew lost control of the airplane after it was struck by lightning. For unknown reasons, the crew decided to continue the flight into poor weather conditions rather than returning to Rostov.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73P in Arques: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brussels – London
MSN:
3
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane departed Brussels on a mail flight to London on behalf of the RAF 271st Squadron. En route, it was shot down by the German Flak. The mechanic bailed out and survived while both pilots were killed when the aircraft crashed in an open field.
Crew:
P/O John Robertson McLaren, pilot, †
Victor Moreau, pilot, †
Armand Peeters, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-41 near Voronezh: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1940 at 1755 LT
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-T3518
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stalingrad – Moscou
MSN:
11/214
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
168
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Stalingrad at 1647LT on a mail flight to Moscow, carrying three crew members and a load of 113 kg of mail. After takeoff, the airplane entered clouds and continued his course to the northwest. After flying a distance of about 350 km, while cruising at an altitude of 4,000 metres in clouds, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field at a speed of 750-800 km/h. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Due to the high degree of destruction, investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, it is believed that the loss of control was probably the consequence of icing while cruising at high altitude in clouds, causing a malfunction of the instruments.

Crash of a Caudron C.282/10 Phalène in Kankan

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
F-ANBI
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Conakry – Kindia – Dabola – Kankan
MSN:
6949.2
YOM:
1934
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Crash of a Junkers W.34fi near Waterways: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-ARI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2732
YOM:
1933
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Fort McMurray, while climbing, the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area located some 5 miles south of Waterways. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot William Beaman Donoghue was seriously injured. He died few hours later from injuries sustained.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Zinnitz

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2D+PH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Schedule:
Radom - Berlin
MSN:
6139
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Radom on a mail flight to Berlin-Staaken Airport. It crashed in unknown circumstances in Zinnitz, some 90 km south of Berlin. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon I near Lahore: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VT-AEL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Calcutta – Lahore
MSN:
6048
YOM:
1933
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While performing a mail flight from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances some 60 km from Lahore. The passenger and the pilot were killed.

Crash of a Polikarpov PR-5 in Leninabad: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L2162
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stalinabad – Leninabad
MSN:
106
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
At 0700LT, the pilot was cleared for takeoff from Stalinabad on a mail flight to Leninabad despite weather conditions at destination were poor due to thunderstorm activity. On approach, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a field and was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot was inexperienced and this was his first solo flight. Failure of the Authority at Stalinabad Airport who allowed the pilot to take off despite poor weather conditions at destination and his lack of experience.